Manchester City have been linked with an opportunistic free agent swoop for Luka Modric if the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner fails to agree a new contract with Real Madrid.

Modric is currently on course to be out of contract at the Bernabeu at the end of the season, which has brought a degree of uncertainty to his future as he approaches the final chapter of his career – the Croatia legend will turn 37 a few weeks into next season.

In Spain, Super Deporte writes that Modric has entered a similar situation to Sergio Ramos when he was negotiating a new contract with Real last season. It is said that Los Blancos have put forward a one-year contract offer, but Modric is seeking two years.

Ramos was also after a two-year deal, but he couldn’t come to an agreement and ended up leaving at the end of his deal and signing for Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent.

Real want Modric to stay, which is one of the factors that could stop the club making an approach for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, but it appears there remains negotiating to be done.

If Modric does end up running down his contract and walking way from the Bernabeu in the summer after 10 years with Real, he is unlikely to be short of suitors hoping to land a world class player for whom an advancing age doesn’t seem to be a problem.

It is said that Modric would not be interested in an approach from nouveau riche Newcastle or former club Tottenham. But Manchester City is a club he would consider as it could also include an appealing opportunity to later play in the United States with MLS team New York City.

In recent days, City have also been linked with a swoop for Real striker Karim Benzema.

Modric appears happy to stay with Real or move elsewhere as long as he is fully match fit when the time comes to play in the 2022 World Cup with Croatia.

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